BEIJING: Miao Deyu, assistant foreign minister and director-general of the Department of Policy Planning of China’s Foreign Ministry, held a new round of foreign policy planning consultation with Salman Ahmed, director of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, in Shanghai on Tuesday. The two sides had a candid, in-depth and constructive communication on their respective foreign policies, the …
BEIJING: The Chinese military on Thursday urged the Philippines not to “be bent on acting willfully and making trouble,” according to a Defense Ministry spokesman. The Philippine-U.S. “joint maritime military exercise” and “joint air patrol” in the South China Sea has seriously jeopardized regional peace and stability, and run counter to the efforts made by the countries in the region …
ISLAMABAD: PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that PTI founder Imran Khan’s letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – linking the country’s political stability with any further bailout talks – is akin to hostility against the state. Nawaz made these remarks as he arrived at the Parliament House for the inaugural session of the 16th National Assembly (NA). When probed further, the …
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has expressed his disapproval of PTI chief Imran Khan’s letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), terming this move as ‘highly irresponsible’. Appearing on a talk show of a private TV channel, the prime minister said the letter was sent at a time when the caretaker government had significantly worked for economic revival, …
ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui clarified on Thursday that decisions regarding cabinet positions had been finalised, but the party had not sought any specific roles. Addressing the media ahead of the National Assembly session, Siddiqui emphasised that the MQM-P’s focus was not on governorship or ministries, but on delivering the benefits of democracy to the people. …
KARACHI: Following the recent revelation of a leaked audio featuring Mustafa Kamal, another audio surfaced on Wednesday, this time involving Sindh Governor and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Kamran Tessori. In the recording, Tessori purportedly admits that the party did not secure the expected votes in the 2024 elections. In the leaked audio, Tessori can be heard expressing concern about …
RAWALPINDI: Security forces on Wednesday carried out a meticulously planned intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, targeting reported terrorist hideouts, the military said in a statement. According to military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a fierce exchange of fire erupted between the security forces and the terrorists during the operation, resulting in the neutralisation of six terrorists. …
ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader Khawaja Asif claimed on Wednesday that former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-spymaster Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed wielded influence over legislative processes in the previous government of PTI. Talking to the media after the PML-N’s parliamentary party meeting, Asif stressed the necessity of involving not only politicians but also other stakeholders for political …
ISLAMABAD: Newly elected members of the 16th National Assembly (NA) were sworn in on Thursday in a session marred by sloganeering. Outgoing NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath to the MNAs-elect. The session was originally scheduled to begin at 10am but was delayed by more than an hour. According to a spokesperson for the NA, 302 members were …
LAHORE: Amid protest by the opposition, the Punjab Assembly approved here on Wednesday Rs358 billion budget to meet current expenses of the provincial government for the month of March. As Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is yet to form her cabinet, a motion for presenting the one-month budget was tabled by Marriyum Aurangzeb under Rule 125 of the rules of business …